Tablescapes, Valentine Birthday

HHjr’s birthday is Valentine’s Day, so we are having a little celebration the night before. When I am doing a dinner party I love to be able to set the table in advance. This gives me plenty of time to tweak it and get it just right. Plus, that leaves the valuable time right before the party for cooking and other last minute details. Sometimes I leave it set and other times I just “deconstruct” it, keeping all the elements handy so I can recreate it in minutes. I am going to be out of town for the week before Valentine’s Day so I am preparing as much as I can before I leave.

The first thing I always do when creating a tablescape is focus on the centerpiece. I pulled out the red and silver sparkly fabric runners that I had used on the mantle during the holidays.

I twisted it and scrunched it and tied each end with a silver bow

I wanted it to be sort of puffy so I could tuck different things around in it

Then I placed a large hurricane, filled with red and white baubles, in the center with a fat silver candle

I love to use sashes on the chair backs, it really adds a special party touch

I set the places with sheer silver place mats and used black chargers for a touch of masculinity. The dinner plate is a my wedding china, which I love. It is simple and elegant with a silver edge and border embossed with pineapples, the hospitality symbol. I topped the dinner plate with a pewter salad plate, another way to keep it a little more masculine for the guest of honor.

Since this is a Valentine’s Day dinner as well as a Birthday, I tucked a whimsical heart napkin under the dinner plate and added a mini vase of Valentine M&Ms to each place setting, topped with a shiny red heart.

The candlesticks vary in height, 2 low pewter, 2 medium glass, and 2 tall pewter, with the large hurricane in the center.

I love that photo where the table is reflected in the glass!!! You already have a good-sized dining room table, and that reflection just makes the table look a mile long! I just love the look of a long, luxurious table!!! Great idea to use elements from other vignettes around the house and from your Christmas mantel. Smart one there! I like all the different levels of ambient light, too. That adds so much sparkle to the table. Funny about having to get those M&Ms off the table before they magically disappeared otherwise!!! Poor little tyke…he just wanted to look! :-)

Beautiful tablescape!! I do the same with mine — I spend time setting it up and getting it just right days (or weeks) before the event. Saves so much time the day of when there are so many other things to concern ourselves with!
Kenley

Thanks Kenley, lots of people think it’s kind of crazy, but I love that you “get it”! I am lucky though, my dining room is off the beaten path, so I can get away with it. I wish I could be a more relaxed last minute type, but I have to do things in advance!
Jenna

Hi Jenna! This is a great tutorial on how to set a table for a party…something that I really need to work on. Thanks for sharing your tips. I am originally from Birmingham and grew up there. I live in Montgomery now. We also love to go to visit the beaches down in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Destin. You have so much creativity…I signed up to follow your blog via email…I think it worked…not sure.

Love the varied heights of the candles. I need to get better about reusing!! What a great lesson in how to. Your dishes are lovely. The nighttime photos are soo wonderful. HB to Jr… I am sure it will be a memorable event!!

Great job, Jenna. You’ve got it all right, right down to the last detail of tieing bows on the chairs. You know, I don’t have so much Valentine stuff, but seeing all the wonderful things people are doing makes me think I’m missing out.

The end result is stunning — and I very much enjoyed following the story of how you put this festive table together! Love the napkin placement, especially, as well as the darling stirrers in the silver goblets and the tiny vases of M&Ms! Great touches!

Hi Jenna. Wanted to let you know that you will be one of the features tomorrow at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. See you tomorrow at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse